AREC

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications

26 September 2007 - Missing tramper and three children

A family tramping party headed in the Tauherenikau intending to stay overnight at either Cone or Tutuwai, to return Tuesday afternoon. After failing to return by next day and with a significant spike in the river flow the Westpac helo was tasked with one Police SAR Squad observer to search the area. The missing party were located just as the Westpac lifted off from Camp Kaitoke. With the Mt Climie SAR repeater temporarily off the air I sought permission from DoC to use their Cone ESB repeater as an alternative channel and made arrangements for programming SAR radios.

15 September 2007 - Dog SAREX Makara

Wellington Land SAR held a Dog SAREX in the 12,000 acre Terawhiti Station behind Makara and out to the remote southeast coast of Wellington.

Attending were:

Brain Fearnley ZL2BRF
Dave Walker ZL2BHE
Rick Smith ZL2TVY
Tom Clarke ZL2TDD
John Yaldwyn ZL4JY

VHF operation was established on ESB58 using a Police portable repeater deployed by 4WD and an AREC Icom F110 base. VHF was used exclusively with teams and the Westpac helicopter on the same channel.

12 September 2007 - Missing Newlands man

A man withy a medical condition was reported missing late afternoon from his home in Newlands. Police searched the house and all properties in the street.

After discussion Police and given the possibility of an urban search that evening or the next day I did a coverage check around Newlands on my way home to determine the most suitable VHF channel. The EE196 repeater at Wrights Hill provided excellent coverage and Rick ZL2TVY was asked to go on standby.

A friend of the family found the missing man without the need for search.

- ZL4JY, Section Leader

8 September 2007 - AREC Training Day

AREC have commenced a concentrated New Zealand wide training programme. The first AREC training day was held at Camp Kaitoke on Saturday 8 September with 52 attending from the lower half of the NI attending along with representatives from WLSAR and Police. The day was run by AREC National Training Officer Daniel ZL1DFA and organized by the Group's AREC section.

1 August 2007 - Missing Stokes Valley man

A 78 year old man went missing on Tuesday 31 July in Stokes Valley. Police and WLSAR searched Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday without result. The search has been concluded unless new and relevant information comes to hand. Communications on Wednesday was via Police UHF switching to SAR VHF for Thursday. A portable repeater installed on ESB60 at dawn on Thursday morning provided good coverage of the area. Attending were Dave Walker ZL2BHE, Brian Fearnley ZL2BRF, and John Yaldwyn ZL4JY.

- ZL4JY, Section Leader.